Louisiana Sale Sets Dates, Makes Changes

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association has announced a few changes for the Sept. 29-30 Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana auction.

This year’s sale will be for yearlings only; no mixed session will be offered. And due to space limitations, no more than 450 yearlings will be accepted for the sale. The entry deadline is July 7 and consignors’ contracts will be mailed June 15.

The entry fee will remain the same ($300) as last year, but the minimum commission has been increased to $250.

The auction once again will be held at the Ike Hamilton Equine Exposition Center in West Monroe, La. The 40-acre site is fully climate-controlled with 510 stalls all under one roof. The sale will be Web cast at the LTBA Web site.

Interest in accredited Louisiana-bred horses is at an all-time high. Louisiana racetracks annually generate more than $40 million in additional purses, with more than $12 million reserved for Louisiana-breds and $7.2 million in breeders’ awards. The total payout for owner and breeder awards was $20 million in 2006 and more than $22.6 million in 2007.

In another change for 2008, horses sold in the Breeders Sale Co. of Louisiana sale as yearlings will race for $150,000, up from $75,000, in two sales stakes: the A.L. “Red” Erwin Memorial and Elge Rasberry Memorial. Non-sale horses will race for $50,000 in the two events.

All accredited Louisiana-bred yearlings sold in the auction are eligible for the “Bayou State Bonus,” a $100,000 award paid to the owner of any yearling colt or gelding sold in the sale that wins the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, the Crescent City Derby, and the Erwin Memorial, or the owner of any filly sold in the sale that wins the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie, the Crescent City Oaks, and the Elge Rasberry.